Chair protector

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for protecting chairs prevents unauthorized persons from interacting with a chair. The apparatus prevents persons from sitting on the chair in the location where a person would normally sit and also prevents persons from playing with the chair. A cover has retainers attached to it. The retainers engage elements of the chair such as arms, seat, seat back, etc. to maintain the apparatus on a chair. The cover portion of the apparatus covers, or spans over, the location where a person would normally occupy and denies that volume of space to an unauthorized person. Also, when the apparatus is installed, the cover conceals the retainers that keep the apparatus in place. Some embodiments, may also employ anti-tamper elements, such as a locking buckle on the retainer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present application relates generally to protecting chairs. More particularly, this application relates to protecting a chair by preventing it from being sat upon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many hair salons and similar businesses have multiple chairs and multiple booths in a generally open floor plan. Frequently, the booths are openly accessible, and the chairs are used on different schedules. This means that while some chairs are in use, other chairs are not in use. With an open floor plan, the chairs that are not in use are easily accessible.

Some clients in hair salons have children with them. If only one parent, or other adult, is there with the children, while that adult is being tended to in a chair, the children may be inadequately supervised. The children will frequently play on the salon chairs by spinning them, raising or lowering them, climbing on them, pushing for position in them, etc. This can be dangerous to the children, who are at risk of serious injury, and to the chairs, which may be damaged. If the adult(s) that brought the children do not adequately supervise the children, it's left to others to supervise, or reprimand, the children. This creates a rather awkward situation for others, and may impose a burden that is not eagerly, or even conscientiously, taken up.

Salon chairs have several mechanical features that make them expensive pieces of capital equipment for stylists. The chairs may: swivel at the base; have hydraulics to raise and lower; have mechanisms allowing it to recline; and may perform other possible operations. Each of these features provide something to play with and something to break. As mentioned above, those playing with the chair may be injured, as well.

Various embodiments of the invention of the present application discourage children, or teens, from playing in and on a chair. This is accomplished by using an obstacle to block the sitting space of the chair. Various retention features may be used to retain the obstacle in place and these retention features may be hidden from immediate view or otherwise protected from access. Other features of the chair may also be blocked.

RELEVANT ART

U.S. Pat. Nos. 9,153,397 B2 and 9,883,747 B2 by D'Amato, et al. are both for a “FURNITURE COVER ASSEMBLY”. In these patents, a furniture cover assembly comprises side portions interconnected to define an interior area, wherein at least one side portion has an edge portion adjacent to an access opening to the interior area. The edge portion has a belt tunnel with opposing first and second open ends. An adjustment member is adjacent to the first open end, and a belt is slideably disposed in the belt tunnel. The belt has first and second free end portions projecting from the exterior of the belt tunnel. The belt's first free end portion is adjustably connected to the adjustment member and forms a first adjustable loop exterior of the belt tunnel and is configured to connect to a support structure of a furniture unit when positioned in the interior area. The belt's second free end portion forms a second loop exterior of the belt tunnel adjacent to the second open end and is configured to connect to a second support structure of the furniture unit with the belt tunnel extending between the first and second support structures.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,962,010 B2 by Sheldrake is for a “MODULAR FURNITURE COVER SYSTEM”. Sheldrake discloses modular cover systems for protecting furniture and other objects. In an embodiment, a furniture protection system comprises a first cover portion comprising a front surface and a back surface interconnected by a top surface, the first cover portion configured to substantially cover a front, back, and top surface of a first furniture component; and a second cover portion comprising a front surface and a back surface interconnected by a top surface, the second cover portion configured to substantially cover a front, back, and top surface of a second furniture component, wherein a first edge of the first cover portion comprises a first releasable fastener for connecting the first cover portion to the second cover portion, and wherein a second edge of the second cover portion comprises a second releasable fastener configured to engage the first releasable fastener.

U.S. Published Patent Application 2017/0290442 A1 by Rause is for a “RETRACTABLE CHAIR COVER”. The retractable chair cover facilitates the expeditious covering of a chair. The chair cover includes an elongated housing having straps configured to mount the housing to the legs of a chair. A roller rotatably disposed in the housing rotates in a first and second direction. A cover affixed to the roller is configured to extend and retract through a slot disposed on the housing. A front flap and a pair of opposing flaps extending outwardly from the cover define a pocket sized to receive a chair. An actuator operably coupled to the roller is configured to rotate the roller and retract the cover when extended.

As may be seen from the relevant art, there is a need for an apparatus that prevents persons from playing, or interacting with a chair without authorization, which is not easily removed by unauthorized persons, while also being easily installed and removed by authorized persons.

SUMMARY

The embodiments of the apparatus described herein protect chairs from being used by unauthorized persons, or from being misused. Examples where it is desirable to protect unattended chairs are hair salons, nail salons, cosmetics counters, etc., where essentially open booths have chairs for clients. A given booth may be unattended while surrounding booths are in use. Persons accompanying clients in the attended booths may be attracted to unattended chairs, especially children accompanying clients. Inadequately supervised children may play in, or climb on, a chair; for that matter, teens as well.

The apparatus protects the chairs by preventing a person from sitting on the seat surface or occupying the volume where a person would normally sit in a chair. The apparatus employs a cover to span the location where a person would sit and thus denies the occupation of the chair to a person. This allows the chair to be in a common area where persons may have access to the chair, but not authority to use the chair. A retainer keeps the cover in position on the chair and in some embodiments, the retainer also helps maintain the shape of the cover in the location where a person would sit. The retainer may engage the various elements of a chair, such as a footrest, the arms, the seat, the seat back, etc. to secure the apparatus to the chair. The apparatus may employ various anti-tampering approaches. The cover may conceal the retainer and prevent the easy removal of the apparatus. Also, the retainer may incorporate anti-tampering devices such as locking buckles to prevent the removal of the apparatus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Additional utility and features of the invention will become more fully apparent to those skilled in the art by reference to the following drawings, which illustrate some of the primary features of embodiments of the chair protection apparatus.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus to protect chairs installed on a chair.

FIG. 2 is front elevated perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus to protect chairs installed on a chair.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus to protect chairs partially installed on a chair with a portion of the cover removed from the footrest of the chair and folded back.

FIG. 4 is a front elevated perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus to protect chairs installed on a chair with part of the cover rolled back to show the retainer that retains the apparatus on the chair.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an apparatus to protect chairs removed and placed on a surface with the top surface down and the opening up.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of an apparatus to protect chairs removed and placed on a surface with the top surface up.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of straps and couplers used to retain the apparatus on a chair.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of straps and couplers used to retain the apparatus on a chair.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus to protect chairs standing by itself.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus to protect chairs with strap sections forming a retainer externally over a cover.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of an apparatus to protect chairs wherein a frame retains the apparatus on a chair.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus 10 to protect chairs installed on a chair 100. FIG. 2 is front elevated perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus 10 to protect chairs installed on a chair 100. In FIGS. 1 and 2, apparatus 10 spans over the entire chair 100 and blocks off the area, or volume, where a person would sit in chair 100. This prevents a person from sitting in an unattended chair. In FIGS. 1 and 2, apparatus 10 only leaves the support of chair 100 exposed. As can be seen in FIG. 1, pedestal 101 of chair 100 is exposed. In other embodiments, apparatus 10 may only span over the sitting area of chair to block off the area, or volume, of chair 100 where a person would sit, while leaving other parts of chair 100 exposed. For example, for chairs 100 having arms, embodiments of apparatus 10 may span between the arms to obtain the purpose of denying the sitting area, while leaving a footrest or chair back exposed.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus 10 to protect chair 100 partially installed on chair 100 with a portion of cover 20 removed from the footrest 102 of chair 100 and folded back. With cover 20 folded back, footrest 102, seat 103, arms 104, and pump 105 of chair 100 are visible. Pump 105 is one of the features of chair 100 that makes it an expensive piece of equipment for its owner and is a feature that is often played with by unauthorized persons. Retainer strap sections 30 of apparatus 10 may be seen extending from cover 20. Retainer strap sections 30 extend from cover 20 and under arms 104 of chair 104 to engage arms 104 and retain apparatus 10 on chair 100. Strap sections 30 may engage a respective arm 104 individually or strap sections 30 may reach across seat 103 to couple to form a single retainer 31 and engage both arms 104 together. Returning to the embodiments of apparatus 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2, it can be seen that cover 20 completely conceals retainers 31 when apparatus 10 is installed on a chair 100.

FIG. 4 is a front elevated perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus 10 to protect chairs installed on a chair 100 with part of cover 20 rolled back to show the retainer 31 that retains apparatus 10 on chair 100. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, retainer 31 spans underneath both arms 104 of chair 100 to engage both arms 104. Retainer 31 is formed from strap sections 30 coupled together at their coupler ends 32. The other, attached, ends 33 of strap sections 30 are attached to cover 20. In FIG. 4, coupler ends 32 of strap sections 30 overlap to couple and form retainer 31.

In FIG. 4, support strap 34 is attached at each end to cover 20 and passes over arms 104. In some embodiments, support strap 34 is comprised of elastic material. In other embodiments, support strap 34 may be made of a flexible tensile material which is drawn tight by retainer 31 when strap sections 30 are coupled. In still other embodiments, support strap 34 may be made of a material sufficiently stiff to act as a frame and span arms 104 without being drawn tight. Returning again to FIGS. 1 and 2, embodiments of apparatus 10 that employ a retainer 31 that spans between arms of chair 100 will have cover 20 supported by the concealed retainer 31. This further maintains the shape of cover 20 to completely fill the sitting area of chair 100. Support strap 34 also supports the shape of cover 20.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of an apparatus 10 to protect chairs removed and placed on a surface with the top surface down and the opening 21 up. FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of an apparatus 10 to protect chairs removed and placed on a surface with the top surface up. In some embodiments, opening 21 may have elastic 22 around its perimeter. In FIGS. 5 and 6, pouch 23 may be seen formed at one end of cover 20. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, when apparatus 10 has a pouch 23 and is installed on a chair 100, pouch 23 extends down over footrest 102 to more fully cover chair 100. This further decreases the likelihood of an unauthorized person from sitting in the chair. In the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2, elastic 22 pulls cover 20 in closer around the bottom of chair 100.

FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of strap sections 30 and couplers used to retain apparatus 10 on a chair. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, straps sections 30 have complimentary hook and loop pads 35 on coupler ends 32 of strap section 30. Hook and loop pads 35 couple together to form a retainer 31 to engage elements of chair 100. In FIG. 4, retainer 31 engages arms 104 of chair 100. However, in other embodiments retainer 31 may be located on cover 20 in a position to engage seat 103, the chair back, both seat 103 and the chair back together, or entirely around seat 103 and arms 104.

In some embodiments, apparatus 10 may employ anti-tamper devices to deter removal of apparatus 10. Anti-tamper devices may take any of several forms such as locks or sound alarms. FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of strap sections 30 and couplers used to retain apparatus 10 on a chair. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the couplers on coupler ends 32 of strap sections 30 are complementary portions of anti-tamper locking buckle 36. When strap sections 30 have locking buckle 36 as couplers to form retainer 31, unauthorized persons are prevented from tampering with apparatus 10 in an attempt to remove it. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, locking buckle 36 comprises a combination lock as its locking mechanism. This, of course, requires knowledge of the combination to unlock buckle 36. However, other locking buckles may operate with a key which would require possession of the key to unlock it. Although FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate hook and loop couplers 35 and locking buckle 36 couplers, respectively, other couplers could be employed as well, such as snaps, hooks, etc.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an apparatus 10 to protect chairs standing by itself. This embodiment of apparatus 10 illustrates how apparatus 10 may be partially tailored to fit a given chair. The use of a cover 20 having a tailored shape promotes a close fit of apparatus 10 to a chair without requiring additional retainers to maintain apparatus 10 in a correct position. A well fitted cover 20 allows the structure of the chair to suspend cover 20 over the sitting area, or volume, where a person would occupy. Addition of elastic such as elastic 22 in FIG. 5 further forms apparatus 10 to a given chair. Apparatus 10 may also comprise a support strap 34 to facilitate maintaining the desired volume in cover 20. A well fitted apparatus 10 also makes it more difficult to remove quickly.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an embodiment of apparatus 10 to protect chairs with strap sections 30 forming retainer 31 externally over cover 20. In FIG. 10, rather than concealing retainer 31 under cover 20, strap sections 30 employ anti-tampering couplers, such as locking buckle 36 to deter unauthorized persons from tampering with apparatus 10 to remove it. Strap sections 30 attach at one end to cover 20, pass under chair 100, up the side and meet at the top where locking buckle 36 couples and forms retainer 31. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, retainer 31 engages both the seat and the arms of chair 100. In some cases, the visible display of a tamper resistant retainer may deter an unauthorized person from tampering with apparatus 10.

FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of apparatus 10 to protect chairs wherein a frame retains apparatus 10 on chair 100. Cover 20 is partially rolled back to expose retainer 31. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, retainer 31 is comprised of frame 37. Flame 37 is adjustable in length so that ends 38 of frame 37 engage arms 104 of chair 100. Loops 24 attach retainer frame 37 to cover 20. When apparatus 10 is fully installed, cover 20 conceals retainer frame 37. In the embodiment of FIG. 11, frame 37 retains cover 20 on chair 100 while also supporting and shaping cover 20 to fill the area, or volume, that a person would occupy while sitting in the chair. While retainer frame 37 in the embodiment of FIG. 11 comprises the adjustable configuration spanning between arms 103, other embodiments may employ differently configured frames to retain the apparatus on chairs. The embodiment of apparatus 10 in FIG. 11 also features a shortened cover 20 wherein pouch 23 engages the front edge of seat 103 rather than stretching over footrest 102.

It is to be understood that the embodiments and arrangements set forth herein are not limited in their application to the details of construction and arrangement of the components set forth in the description and illustrated in the drawings. Rather, the description and the drawings provide examples of the embodiments envisioned, but the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments. The embodiments disclosed herein are further capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways, including various combinations and sub-combinations that may not have been explicitly disclosed. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting the claims.

Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which the application and claims are based may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the embodiments and claims presented in this application. It is important, therefore, that the invention be regarded as including such equivalent constructions. 

I claim:
 1. An apparatus to protect chairs, comprising: a cover fitted to cover and span the sitting space of a chair, said cover preventing a person from sitting in the chair; and, a retainer attached to said cover, said retainer engaging a feature of the chair to retain said cover on said chair; said cover concealing the retainer while the apparatus is retained on the chair.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said retainer comprises a strap having two sections, each section having an attached end attached to said cover and a coupling end, said coupling ends of said sections of said strap joining to each other to engage the feature of the chair.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: said coupling ends of said sections comprise hook and loop material.
 4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein: said coupling ends of said sections have a buckle portion, each buckle portion being compatible with the other to assemble together to form a buckle.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein: said buckle is a locking bucking.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said retainer engages the seat of the chair by encircling the seat of the chair.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said retainer engages the chair back by encircling the chair back of the chair.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said retainer engages a leg of the chair by encircling the leg.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said retainer engages an arm of the chair by encircling the arm.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein: said retainer engages both arms of the chair by encircling both arms of the chair.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein: said retainer spans between the arms of the chair and supports said cover over the seat of the chair.
 12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said cover comprises a pouch to fit over a footrest on the chair.
 13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said retainer comprises a frame attached to said cover.
 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein: said frame attaches to the arms of the chair and spans between the arms.
 15. An apparatus to protect chairs having a seat presenting a surface for sitting and a back, said apparatus comprising: a cover fitted to span from the top of the chair back to the front of the chair seat, said cover preventing a person from sitting on the surface of the seat; and, a retainer attached to said cover, said retainer engaging a feature of the chair to retain said cover on said chair; said cover concealing the retainer while the apparatus is retained on the chair.
 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: said retainer comprises a strap having two sections, each section having an attached end attached to said cover and a coupling end, said coupling ends of said sections of said strap joining to each other to engage the feature of the chair.
 17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein: said coupling ends of said sections comprise hook and loop material.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein: said coupling ends each have compatible portions of a snapping buckle.
 19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein: said retainer engages arms on the chair by encircling the arms.
 20. An apparatus to protect chairs, comprising: a cover fitted to cover and span the sitting space of a chair, said cover preventing a person from sitting in the chair; and, a retainer attached to said cover, said retainer locking to a feature of the chair to retain said cover on said chair and prevent unauthorized persons from removing said cover. 